The NBA has fined Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks $25,000 for violating the league’s rules regarding media interview access during the team’s first round series against the Lakers.
The enigmatic forward made headlines throughout the series for his comments and actions on and off the court. However, when Memphis lost Games 3, 4 and 6 in Los Angeles, Brooks declined to speak with media members after the games. He even blamed media for making him seem like a “villain” during the series.
The only words he provided to the media during those three postgame sessions were “I’m out” following the team’s Game 4 loss. The league requires players to be made available after games, and since Brooks didn’t allow himself to be available, the NBA fined him.
The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/WqITrOD3ly
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 30, 2023
Brooks received backlash for not speaking to media after the losses, especially after he talked trash to LeBron James and the Lakers after Game 2. One of his critics was Fox Sports 1’s Shannon Sharpe, who questioned Brooks’s choice to not speak with media after losses even though he had a lot to say after wins.
The second-seeded Grizzlies ended up losing the first round series 4–2 to the No. 7-seed Lakers.
